Antidrip volumetric rapid filling machine

ABSTRACT

This device for rapid and extremely accurate filling of bottles includes a volumetric bi-acting piston, a submersible filling nozzle which opens only when it is actually dispensing and which carries an antidrip suction mechanism adapted to draw off only air above the fluid level when it is not picking up drips from the nozzle tip, provisions for control to avoid dispensing operations when no bottle is present in receiving position, and adjustability of volume and flow rate individually and volume in common for all filling heads in a multiple-head system - all without stopping the filler. Also included are provisions for preventing entrainment of air in the system, and for removing any air which is originally trapped in the system at startup or through operation of a supply pump.

United States Patent [1 1 Laub, III

[ Mar. 11, 1975 1 1 ANTIDRIP VOLUMETRIC RAPID FILLING MACHINE [76]lnventor: Herman Laub, III, 244 N. San

Marino,- San Gabriel, Calif. 91775 [22] Filed: June 12, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 261,913

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,761,606 9/1956 Pahl et a1141/126 X 3,324,904 6/1967 Crothers 141/86 3,385,328 5/1968 Riesenberg141/139 X 3,447,281 6/1969 Buford et al. 53/59 R 3,734,352 5/1973 Dooley222/250 X Primary Examiner-Houston S. Bell, Jr. AssistantExaminer-Frederick R. Schmidt Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Peter l. Lippman[57] ABSTRACT This device for rapid and extremely accurate filling ofbottles includes a volumetric bi-acting piston, a submersible fillingnozzle which opens only when it is actually dispensing and which carriesan antidrip suction mechanism adapted to draw off only air above thefluid level when it is not picking up drips from the nozzle tip,provisions for control to avoid dispensing operations when no bottle ispresent in receiving position, and adjustability of volume and flow rateindividually and volume in common for all filling heads in amultiple-head system all without stopping the filler. Also included areprovisions for preventing entrainment of air in the system, and forremoving any air which is originally trapped in the system at startup orthrough operation of a supply pump.

46 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTED NARI 1 i975 sum 1 o 3 PATENTED D3.870889 SHEET 3 [1F 8 PATENTEI] NARI 1 I375 SHEET 0F 8 .1|||||||||1|||||| m 1 n a i 3 DJ K N N e N A a NW (M w E w m W 2 m m 4 GWm 3 a u ET J J 2 ,1, 5 I Z 4 Q M C e r c J 2 M/JU 1 5 I 3 a. i|| H m WW.1 c 5 r, 6 /0 Q WW m w IQ? y a c 4 f i l. P g g 3 v kl Wm a k 5 w 0 PM1 W E C [T 7 W44 I 0 0 6 f 6 5 a Q, 0 a c ya e a JD 2 1 5 w fi d i d a ra M I. PEI- E EchU 9 0 3 e 5 6 J14 x W x a M w 3 m4 5 p 27 w v M J m 6 CANTIDRIP VOLUMETRIC RAPID FILLING MACHINE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to the filling of containers, such as bottles, withflowable substances ranging from very viscous to very thin and includingsubstances which readily form suds or foam.

Through advantageous combination and coordination of certain principlesand features heretofore known and employed in distinct and disparatesegments of the filling-machine art, and heretofore thought incompatibleby many practitioners of this art, the instant invention makes possiblea combination of high filling speed and remarkably fine volumetricprecision and accuracy heretofore considered unfeasible.

The principles referred to are as follows:

l) Accurate fill requires a cyclically operating volumetric meteringdevice. (2) Accurate fill requires close control of liquid at all pointsin the system downstream from the metering device, to prevent loss ofliquid to the surrounds or otherwise so that all liquid metered actuallyenters and remains in the bottle, and no unmetered liquid enters thebottle.

(3) Accurate fill requires close control for and accounting of air whichis or might be in the system, as such air affects the fill to the extentof the volume displaced. In some cases such trapped air may be graduallyremoved in successive fills; in other cases a bubble may remain trapped,expanding and contracting variably during the filling cycles; in eitherevent objectionable imprecision of fill results. Leakage of the air intothe system must be prevented, and air normally present in the system atstartup, or injected into the system unavoidably as by the whippingaction of some sorts of supply pumps and like devices, or by cavitation,must be systematically removed.

(4) Accurate fill requires close monitoring of system operation to guardagainst the possibility of bottles leaving the filler with only apartial fill due to incomplete cycling of the volumetric device.

(5) Accurate fill in a multiple-head filling machine requires that allthe heads be operated under as nearly as possible identical conditionsof flow rate as well as nominal volume setting. Otherwise smalldifferences in pressure drop through the dispensing lines can causeslightly different behavior of the fluid at and leaving the dispensingnozzle, and at other places in the system, thus rendering the fillimprecise due to inter-head effects.

(6) Accurate fill requires that the operation generally be clean, in thesense that normal function of the filler should not deposit fluid onexternal surfaces of the bottle or the filling machine itself even ifthese be quite reproducible or consistent in volume lost from the fill.Such external deposits even if reproducible have the effect of maskingor concealing malfunctions of the apparatus such as leaky seals in ordownstream of the volumetric filler and thereby prolonging the durationof such malfunctions until they become relatively more significant.

The implementation of these six principles in the present invention isdescribed in general terms in the following paragraphs.

While these principles taken individually are recognized in variousportions of the filling-machine art, as

shown below their proper coordination and cooperation has never beeneffected, prior to the present invention.

In the present invention the volumetric device is a biacting pistonoperating in a cylindrical chamber. By

bi-acting piston is meant a piston which meters fluid to the dispensingnozzle in both directions or strokes of its complete metering cycle.

Close liquid control in the present invention is obtained by (a)employing a submersible dispensing nozzle, which fills deep within thebottle so that sudsing or foaming of liquids subject to such tendencyupon impact with the bottom of the bottle from a considerable height isminimized; and by (b) fitting the dispensing nozzle with a closuredevice which prevents uncontrolled discharge of fluid from the nozzlewhen the piston is not actually in motion, so that fluid intended forone bottle does not end up in the previous or next bottle; and by (0)further fitting the dispensing nozzle with a suitable mechanism forpicking up drops of fluid from the tip of the nozzle as it is withdrawnfrom the bottle after filling, to avoid these drops dripping into thecontainer and thereby changing the fill, and also to avoid theirdripping onto the outside of the container or onto the filling machineitself.

Close control of air in the present invention is obtained in part byadvantageous combination of some features already described viz., (a)the use of a biacting piston to avoid sucking air into the volumetricchamber on the fluid-intake stroke, as happens with a single-actingpiston; and (b) the use of a closable dispensing nozzle, which preventsuncontrolled admission of air to the system through the nozzle whilstpreventing uncontrolled release of fluid. Air control is furthereffected by (c) interaction between the bi-acting piston and theclosable nozzle, the latter permitting positivepressurized operation ofthe entire system at all times, to avoid sucking air into the volumetricchamber or other portions of the system across auxiliary or secondaryseals such as, for example, at a seal between the volumetric chamber anda plunger attached to the piston and extending through an end wall ofthe chamber for purposes of providing an external indication of pistonposition, and at other seals such as gaskets, hose connections and thelike; (d) suitable isolation of the fluid-transferring tubulations,ducts and chambers from the tubulations of any pneumatic control systemparticularly if at high pressure employed to monitor or direct systemfunctions; (e) relative positioning of the dispensing nozzle above thevolumetric chamber, so that air initially in the lines therebetween, andparticularly within volumetric metering chambers, at startup tends to beeliminated promptly through its own buoyancy; (f) shaping andorientation of the piston and chamber so as to force any air bubbles outof the chamber promptly upon startup; and (g) provision of an entrapmentdevice upstream of the volumetric chamber, to collect and remove any airinitially present in the fluid supply or whipped into the fluid supplyas by centrifugal pumps or bubbles of air or fluid vapor produced bycavitation.

Close monitoring of system operation in the instant invention iseffected by providing an extension of the piston through the volumetricchamber wall, and using the motion of this extension outside the chamberfor monitoring and control of the system-function sequence. Inparticular (a) this extension, or piston alert the human operator ofsuch incomplete cycling, 7

and/or to halt system operation at least for the affected head untilcorrective action can be taken manually to prevent anincompletely-filled bottle from leaving the .flller in the productionline, and/or automatically to effect such corrective action.

Operation of all heads under substantially identical conditions ornominal volume setting and flow rate is implemented by providing (a)individual volume adjustment for each head this being convenientlyeffected, for example, by adjusting the distance between the sensorswhich detect, and thereby define, the arrival of the external end of theplunger at the extremes of its motion, because the volume dispensed isdirectly proportional to the .throw of the piston at each stroke and (b)individual flow-rate adjustment for each head this being convenientlyand stablely effected by providing in the apparatus a selectableplurality of constrictions or orifices of different size for insertionin the flow path to each dispensing nozzle and common volume adjustmentfor all units in a multiple-head filling machine whereby the individualvolumes once equalized can heal] varied together over small excursionsto obtain exactly the correct volume required (and whereby also, byoperation of the common adjustment through larger excursions, the aboveadvantages can be obtained with a single multiple-head filling machinefor filling bottles of greatly different size, as for example 1 pint to5 gallons).

Clean operation in the present invention is obtained by (a) provision ofa suctiomoperative drop-catching mechanism at the nozzle, which iscarefully synchronized with system suquencing so that it does not suckfluid up from the body of fluid in the bottle but only sucks dropspotentially drips from the tip of the nozzle, well above the fluid levelin the bottle, after filling; and (b) provision of interlocks preventingsystem sequencing, and/or actual discharge of fluid from the dispensingnozzle, in the event that no container is fed into receiving positionunder that particular nozzle. These provisions in turn interact with thepositive pressurization mentioned above as important for air control, inthat a leaking seal anywhere in the system will produce an externaldeposit which can be seen since the bottles and system in normal, properoperation are clean thereby flagging the existence of the leak even whenit amounts to only one or two drops per bottle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While some of the above points takenindividually and cursorily may seem apparent, and while thefillingmachine art and industry has stood severely in need of a machinewhich is both extremely rapid and extremely accurate since, inparticular, the users of filling machines labor under considerableeconomic disadvantage from the unavailability of such machines itnonetheless remains true that the above principles have never heretoforebeen cooperatively combined and coordinated in the ways and for thepurposes herein described.

As a direct consequence the current state of the filling-machine artconsiders imprecisions of l or 1 V2 ounce per gallon or 0.8 to 1.2% tobe at the limit of feasible operation, in a reasonably rapid filler.Since packaging companies must under the law fill every container withat least as much fluid as is nominally contained i.e., as the labelindicates this means that the average container must be overfilled by atleast 0.5 to 0.75 ounces per gallon, or 0.4 to 0.6%. Needless to say,0.4% of the dollar value of product dispensed by a large manufacturer ofliquid detergent, or antifreeze. or solvent, amounts to a significantsum particularly in low-profit-margin industries, where 0.4% of thegross dollar value may represent 20% of the net profit.

Yet the requirement that every customer receive at least a nominal fillis properly founded in the currently maturing concern for consumerprotection; while the objectionability of significant overfill, in someindustries, is compounded by the undesirability of waste per se from anecological or natural-resourcesconservation point of view.

By contrast the above-stated principles of the present invention,skillfully applied, permit manufacture of filling machines precise tol/28 ounce, or roughly five drops, per gallon, or 0.03%. This precisionis 30 times well over an order of magnitude finer than that obtainablewith the best filling machines heretofore available.

Previous filling machines have employed submersible nozzles, some withclosable tips. However these have been employed primarily withbottom-filling valves for sudsing liquids, in which the product istransported into the container without premeasuring, and such fillersare subject to considerable inaccuracy both through the absence of anaccurate volumetric system per se and also through the fact that anydrip-catching mechanisms associated with such fillers have operated todraw off fluid below the fluid level in the bottle, thereby variably(i.e., imprecisely) diminishing the fill.

Other previous filling machines have employed volumetric pistons, butmost of these have objectionably been single-acting devices, wherein thepiston is driven back and forth by a mechanical cam or like mechanism,only sucking product into the cylinder at one stroke and only driving itfrom the cylinder in the following stroke. 1 have found experimentallythat tiny bubbles are entrained at the piston-chamber seal during thesuction stroke, in such fillers, and on the expulsion stroke some of thebubbles are carried with the fluid to the dispensing nozzle, or asearlier noted remain trapped and are subject to variable expansion andcontraction, in either event variably and objectionably diminishing thevolume of fluid dispensed. Pat. Nos. 3,419,053 to Tanner; 2,276,157 and2,303,822 to Chapman. A bi-acting piston is disclosed by E. A. Pontifexin U.S. Pat. No. 162,575. In the Unilever Patent Specification, thepiston is a dual element having an air space between its two pressuringsides and thus failing to obviate the air-entrainment disadvantages ofthe single-acting piston. Moreover neither of these devices includes incooperation with the volumetric piston a submersible, closable nozzlewith drip-catching provision and the other features herein describedwhich are so important.

In this regard it is important to emphasize that for the fullestrealization of the advantages of the instant invention all of theaforementioned principles must be brought into action, through suitableimplementations such as the features herein described. That is, as theseprinciples are functionally combined in concert the resultingincremental capability, with the addition of each principle, becomesqualitatively different where by qualitatively different we here mean anaccuracy improvement by considerably better than an order of magnitudein a clean, very fast filling machine, resulting in the qualitativelydifferent capability of accurately filling each. and every container toat least its nominal volume and with negligible overfill.

Of course it is possible to omit some of these principles and suffer theloss of this qualitative difference in capability only underextraordinary conditions: for example, omission of suitablesequence-control provisions may not prevent manufacture of a fillingmachine which is extremely accurate except in the event of certain kindsof system misfunction such asincomplete cycling of the volumetric pistonor failure of the bottlefeed mechanism. Hence some of these features maybe regarded as secondary, and their omission from a particular deviceshall not diminish the applicability to such device of thoseof theappended claims which do not recite such secondary features.

All of the principles and features and their concomitant advantages maybe more fully understood through understanding of the embodimentshereinafter described in detail, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. la, lb and 1c are drawings in sectionshowing the configuration of the submersible closable nozzle and therelative positions of its parts at three different positions relative toa bottle to be filled these corresponding to five different phases ofthe operational suquence.

FIGS. 2 and 2a through 2e are drawings mostly in section and partly inelevation showing the configuration of the various parts,- and theinterconnections. of these parts, forming one embodiment of the presentinvention, specifically one in which pneumatic valvesare employed assensors and are employed to control system sequencing. Theseillustrations represent the operation of a single-head system, that is,a system having only one piston and one nozzle for filling one bottle ata time; these illustrations also represent one head of a multiple-headsystem, that is, a system having a multiplicity of pistons each with itsrespective nozzle and sharing a common supply and certain other commonelements for filling a multiplicity of bottles concurrently or evensimultaneously.

FIGS. 2a through 2d, in particular, represent equivalent arrangementsfor connection of one of the modules in FIG. 2 to the other componentsof the FIG. 2 system. Also, FIG. 2e in particular represents theinterior of that same module, partly cut away as in FIG. 2, but in FIG.2e a certain movable internal part of that module is shown in adifferent position than that in which it is shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is an elevation drawing, partly cut away, showing portions ofarotary multiple-head filling machine in accordance with the instantinvention. While an actual device of this sort may have as many as adozen or twenty or even more heads, for purposes of clarity only threeheads are illustrated in FIG. 3. It may be noted in this connection thatthe vertical orientation of the metering pistons and chambers arisesfrom space limita tions in multiple-head filling machines. Theembodiment of FIG. 3 is substantially in correspondence with that ofFIGS. 2 and 2a except that the sequencemonitoring and controllingsensors are electrical rather than pneumatic.

FIG. 3a is an electrical schematic representing the electrical wiring tothe elements forming each head. and its corresponding peripheraldevices, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is an elevation drawing showing portions of a rotarymultiple-head filling machine in accordance with the instant invention.This embodiment is as to hardware very similar to that of FIG. 3, andaccordingly only one and part of a second head are shown; it isdifferent from the embodiment of FIG. 3 in that pneumatic rather thanelectrical sequence sensing and control are employed, as in FIG. 2; andalso in that the sequence-control logic is somewhat different, ashereinafter described.

FIG. 4a is a pneumatic schematic, with some devices shown in section,representing pneumatic tubulation connections to the elements formingeach head, and its corresponding peripheral devices, of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4b is an elevation drawing showing certain variations in the designof a directional-control fluid valve employed in the variousembodiments.

FIG. 5 is a pneumatic schematic representing connections for sequencesensing and control of a rectangular-array multiple-head filling machinein accordance with the instant invention, and intended for substantiallysimultaneous filling of containers in a caseat-a-time" or in-line(line-at-a-time) mode.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. la through 10, thesubmersible closable nozzle assembly comprises three basic parts:

(I) a subassembly 1 consisting of a supply body Ia and attached rotablythereinto a supply hood lb with lateral orifices 1k and lj andintegrally attached centerpin 16 and tip 1d, and the supply body la alsohaving a lateral supply tubulation 1g;

(2) a supply sleeve 2;

(3) a vacuum hood 3 with depending section 3b, downward-extendingactuator step 30, and lateral vacuum tubulation 30.

There are in addition five O-ring (or T-ring) seals 7, 8, 9 and 10, andtwo springs 5 and 6. The entire assembly is suspended from a lowerablesupport staff lh indicated as a rod extending upwards out of thedrawings which is integral with the supply body la.

The apparatus is essentially a figure of revolution i.e., cylindrical orconical except for the lateral tubulations lg and 3c, the lateralorifices 1k and lj, the transverse passage 1f in the tip 1d, theactuator section 3a which forms part of the right side of the vacuumhood 3, and the springs 5 and 6.

Lateral dimensions are greatly exaggerated related to verticaldimensions, for the sake of clarity.

In FIG. 1a the apparatus appears suspended above a container 4, such asa bottle, which is to be automatically filled using the apparatus.

Note that in FIG. 1a the vacuum hood 3 and supply sleeve 2 are both incontact with the seals 9 and 10 mounted in the tip 1d. Thus the materalsupply generally liquid or syrup is constrained within the cavity formedby the supply body 1a, supply hood lb, and tip 1d; while the vacuumsystem sucks air from the vicinity of the bottom of tip 1d, viatubulation 3c and the passages l f and le within the tip. As shown,neither spring is compressed beyond the amount required to effect goodseal closures at seals 9 and 10.

If FIG. la is taken to be a view of the nozzle assembly descending intoposition to start filling the bottle, then of course there is no liquidin the bottle; hence eventual liquid level 11a is shown here in phantomline. At this stage, the sucking operation through the vacuum hood isnot accomplishing any useful purpose but it is normally left inoperation for simplicity of the control systern.

As the assembly is lowered further, the actuator portion 3a of thevacuum hood 3 contacts the top of the bottle 4, preventing furtherdescent of the vacuum hood. The rest of the assembly continues to movedown, compressing the springs primarily the lighter spring 6. The supplysleeve 2 slides through the seal 8 mounted inside the vacuum hood, sothat the supply sleeve, the centerpin and the tip continue downward tothe position shown in FIG. lb. The lower seal 10 mounted on the tip 1dis now lowered out of contact with the vacuum hood 3, so the vacuumsystem is now sucking air from the region above the tip. The supplysleeve 2, however, is still maintaining contact with its tip seal 9, sothere is still no supply flow and no fluid in the bottle.

As the supply body and hood, centerpin and tip subassembly 1 continue tomove downward, the lighter spring 6 is fully compressed, between thevacuum hood 3 and the flange 2a of the supply sleeve 2, stopping descentof the supply sleeve. The supply body, hood, centerpin and tip, however,move still further lowering the upper seal 9 on the tip out of contactwith the supply sleeve 2 to the position shown in FIG. 1c. This permitssupply flow, and the bottle is filled. Filling is expedited though undersome typical conditions this effect is negligible by removal of air fromthe bottle by the vacuum system; air is also pushed out of the mouth ofthe bottle by the rising fluid. At the lowest point of descent of thesupply body, hood and attached centerpin and tip, the inside of the hoodmay contact the top of the supply sleeve depending on equipment design.The fluid rises above the bottom of the supply sleeve, to the level 11ashown in FIG. 1c.

When the rated fluid volume has been transferred to the bottle, thesupply body and attached parts rise again. At the position of FIG. 1b,with the tip 1d and the bottom of the supply sleeve 2 still immersed,the supply channel is again closed. This prevents spillage ofuncontrolled quantities of fluid from within the sleeve, between fills,either into a container or otherwise.

The assembly rises toward the position of FIG. la, where the vacuumsystem sucks fluid drops from the tip, providing a clean fill.

Flow-rate adjustment is implemented by providing a plurality of orificessuch as lj and 1k arrayed about the periphery of the upper portion ofsupply hood 1b, each selectably positionable for communication withsupply tubulation 1g by means of rotation of hood 1b with respect tosupply body la. Suitable detent means (not illustrated) are provided tomaintain the hood lb in the angular position thus selected.

The apparatus may take forms considerably different from thatillustrated, but the key features are (l provision for supplyingmaterial to fill the container via a conduit whose lower end extendsinto the container and is submerged by the fluid in the container whenthe fill is'complete; (2) closing of the till conduit before the nozzleis removed from the fluid; (3) provision for vacuum removal of drips,after the nozzle is removed from the fluid, and (4) flow-rateadjustment. A secondary feature is (5) vacuum assist of air removal fromthe container during filling.

All of these characteristics are directed to producing a rapid butextremely accurate and clean fill.

The systems shown in the following illustrations all includesubmersible-filling nozzle assemblies per FIGS. 1a through 1c, thoughnot shown in such detail.

FIG. 2 illustrates generally the subassembly 1, sleeve 2, vacuum hood 3and attached parts, identified as in FIGS. 1a through 10. The fluidlevel in FIG. 2 is shown in 11b; thus the sequence in FIG. 2 hasproceeded to the point at which the nozzle is in the position of FIG. 1cbut the liquid level has not yet risen to the level 11a thereinindicated.

Raising and lowering of the nozzle subassembly relative to the containeris in principle effectable either by raising the container or loweringthe nozzle subassembly. Of these alternative and equivalent ways ofoperation only the latter is herein pictured. In FIG. 2 the subassemblyis shown as controlled by air cylinder 35, under control ofbidirectional pushbutton valve 36; supplying air from source 37 tocylinder 35 raises the subassembly, and interrupting the air connectionpermits the subassembly to descend under the influence of gravity. Valve36 may be operated manually or pedally by forces at 36a and 36b, or mayas appropriate be connected for actuation by mechanical cams or othermeans.

Vacuum connection via 3c is made to vacuum vessel 800, whose internalvolume is suitably maintained at a negative pressure relative to ambientby a pump mechanism whose final delivery chamber is representable asvessel 800. Fixed to support staff 1h is pushbutton valve 31, for use asdescribed below.

Shown generally at 26 is a volumetric chamber defined by end walls 26aand 26g, side wall 26b, and other seals and porting as apparent. Apiston is shown within the chamber at 27, with upper face 27 l andadvantageously shaped with lower face 27b and a shaped projection 27cadapted for interaction with the corresponding features of wall 26g asherebelow detailed. The piston is also provided with extension 27e andremote actuating member 27f, and the piston and extension are mountedfor longitudinal sliding motion within and outside of the chamber whilemaintaining seals thereto at 25 and 24 thus forming subchambers forfluid at 111' above and llj below the piston.

Also suitably mounted to chamber 26 as by brackets 28, 28a and 28b arepneumatic pushbutton valves 29 and 30, the latter being a single-channelvalve and the former a dual-channel valve or two single-channel valvesganged together, or any other suitable functional equivalent. Thesevalves are both adjustably positioned in the path of actuator 27f tosense positioning thereof and thus of the piston 27 within the chamber;and in response to such sensing to generate, when suitably excited byattachment of pneumatic tubulations 38d and 38c from compressed-airsource 37, pneumatic signals to control system operation as herebelowdescribed. Actuated surfaces 30a and 29a of the valves 30 and 29respectively are spring-loaded outwards andactuated by force from member27f.

Flow of substance to be dispensed is to and from the chamber 26 viatubulations 12d and 12c and five-port, four-way valve 14. This valve inturn is connected via tubulation 12f and other intermediate devices asshown to supply tank 42, and via tubulations 12b, 12c and 12a to thedispensing-nozzle supply subassembly 1. Within valve 14 is movable spool15, having three sections 15b, 15d and 15f just slightly smaller inexternal diameter than the narrowest internal diameter of the mainbarrel of the valve, and slidably sealed thereto as by seals 17, 18, 19,19a, 19b, 20, 21 and 22 for motion between two positions: one positionas shown in FIG. 2 and the other position as shown in FIG. 2e.

The length of central spool section 15d must be such as to bridge seals19 and 19a or seals 19 and 19b, to prevent improper bypassing duringshifting of the spool.

When spool 15 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, fluid at llnfrom the supply 11s via the intermediate tubulations and devices shownpasses into subchamber 11m within the valve barrel formed by the endwalls of spool sections 15f and 15d and the outer cylindrical wall ofnecked-down intermediate portion le, and from this subchamber flows asat llk into the lower subchamber of chamber 26, holding fluid llj. Thisfluid forces piston 27 upward by pressure at the lower surfaces 27b, 27cand 27d of the piston, whose upper surface 27a forces fluid llicorrespondingly upward and out as at 11h into valve subchamber 113formed by the end walls of spool sections b and 15d and the outercylindrical wall of necked-down intermediate portion 15c. From thissubchamber the fluid proceeds as at lle and 11d to the dispensing nozzlesubassembly 1. Once filling has begun, the CONTAINER READY cam 32 mustbe manually or automatically withdrawn from contact with button31a, aswill be seen shortly.

During this operation, fluid is discharged at 11c into the bottle 4, andthe actuator 27f rises toward button 30a. When the actuator fullydepresses the OUT valve button 30a, compressed air from line 38cproceeds via line 38f and hole 14a in the side wall of the four-wayvalve into contact with the end wall of spool section 15b, and the airpressure thereon forces the spool to the position shown in FIG. 2e.

Connections are thereby reversed so that entering fluid 11n flows via11h to 111', forcing piston 27 downward and thereby forcing fluid at lljfrom below the piston outward as at 11k, whence it traverses the valveand exits at 11f to 11d, where as before it reaches and is dispensedthrough nozzle subassembly l and sleeve 2.

This operation continues until the piston bottoms out. Although actuator27f does fully depress button 29a of the IN valve 29, no control actionresults therefrom yet, because due to withdrawal of cam 32 the valve29'is not pneumatically excited via valve 31.

The dispensing nozzle is then raised from the container as by force atsurface 36a of valve 36, to actuate air cylinder 35; the full bottle isremoved and an empty one positioned in its place. Surface 36b isdepressed to deactivate the air cylinder 35 and permit lowering of thenozzle.

After the vacuum hood 3 has had ample time to descend into contact withthe top of bottle 4, the cam 32 is replaced in the location shown in thefigure. If the placement of a bottle in receiving position as shown hasnot been accomplished, then the nozzle has proceeded past the heightillustrated and the button 31 is not in position'to be depressed by thecam 32, so no cyclecontrol action results. The same is the case in theevent the nozzle fails to descend fully to engage the bottle.

However, if the bottle is properly in place then repositioning of cam 32as illustrated provides pneumatic signalfrom source 37 via 38a, 38b and38d to excite pneumatic sensor valve 29. As the latter has, per thenormal operational cycle above described, already been actuated,pneumatic signals are applied therethrough and via line 38e to hole 14bat the right (as illustrated) end of valve 14, to force the spool backto the position shown in FIG. 2. This initiates another tilling cycle asabove described, provided that the spool responds properly.

If the spool does not move in response to the pneumatic signal fromvalve 29, the cycle will not start. This can generally be the casebarring serious breakdown only when the system has been shut down for aperiod of many hours, permitting the compliant seals l7, l8, 19, 19a,19b, 20, 21 and 22 to cold-flow into the pores of the spool sections1512, 15d and 15f. Breaking the spool loose under these conditions mayrequire a force ten times the normal operating force applied to shiftthe spool back and forth. To ascertain whether this has occurred,external extensions 15a and 15g are provided for the spool and these areslidably sealed at 16 and 23 to ,the internal circumferences ofapertures in the end walls. When the system is to be turned on afterbeing shut down for several days, the operator first manually depressesbuttons 31a and 29a, or button 30a as appropriate, while visually orotherwise observing the extensions 15a and 15g to verify that the spoolis not frozen in place. When this verification can be satisfactorilycompleted, the substance supply can be connected and operation begun. Ifthe initial verification attempt is negative, the operator can tap on anend anvil 15i or 15h to free the spool, and then repeat the test; ofcourse the tap" can be a force automatically applied through a cam orotherwise. In the event that the nozzle is raised out of contact withthe bottle, thereby sealing sleeve 2 to tip Id, before the piston hashad time to bottom out, then when the next bottle is in position and thenozzle lowered to contact the bottle and with it valve 38b, even if thenozzle stops at the correct height to engage cam 32 and excite valve 29no pneumatic signal will pass through line 38c to shift the spoolbecause the button 29a has not been depressed by actuator 27f. This isessential to avoid passage of the previous (underfilled) bottle intoproduction line and marketing, and to avoid continued underfilling ofthe series of bottles to follow.

Under these circumstances the valve 29 instead generates anincomplete-cycle signal via line 38g to utilization means which maycomprise (1) an alarm as represented by bell 39 andpneumatically-actuated clapper 3812, (2) pneumatically-actuatedsupply-fluid shutdown valve 33 with reset button 33a, (3)pneumaticallyactuated compressed-air shutdown valve 34 with reset button34a and a time-delay provision comprising constriction 38i and expansionchamber 38k to ensure supply shutdown prior to disabling of thepneumatic system, or (4) interlocks (not shown) to remove theincompletely filled bottle from the production line. Depending on thedetails of system operation these shutdown provisions may or may not beuseful in a given system.

Some systems may be supplied with fluid for dispensing via tubulation12f directly from supply 11s in tank 42, by gravity. In other cases apump 43 may be provided; in such cases, particularly in the event acentrifugal pump is employed which tends to whip air bubbles intocertain kinds of fluids, an air-entrapment device as indicated at 41 isdesirable. Container wall 41 defines a broadened flow path for fluid110, relative to the breadth of other portions of the flow path as atllr and lln, so that the velocity of fluid through container 41 isgreatly diminished relative to that through tubulations elsewhere in thesystem, as 12g and 12f. The exact dimensions and length of the containermust be worked out in terms of the flow rates and viscosities for whichthe system is designed, so that air bubbles entering with the fluid fromthe tubulation 12g have ample time to rise to the top of the container41 of their own buoyancy before reaching the dome section 41a. Suchbubbles thus accumulate in the dome section 41a forming an air spaceabove the fluid level 11p. As the fluid level 11p falls by accumulatonof additional bubbles the float 40 falls also and with it the attachedneedle of needle valve 40a, whereby air is exhausted through the escapeneedle valve 40a to maintain the fluid level 11p above the bottom of thedome section 41a or in any event above the top of the exit tubulation12f.

Another air-entrainment control feature is the cooperative shaping ofpiston 27 lower surface 27b and the projection 27c and its lower surface27d with chamber lower end wall 260, port 26d and the bottom 26h of port26d, so as to expel from the chamber any air bubbles initially trappedin the system at startup. This effect is obtained in the embodimentshown by causing the clearance between surface 27b and surface 26c to beslightly larger at the center of the chamber than at its periphery, andcausing the clearance between surfaces 27d and 26h to be slightly largerat the right side, which opens into to tubulation, than at the left(blind) side. That is, the inclination of the conical surface 27b to thediameter of the chamber is slightly less than the inclination of theconical surface 260 thereto, and similarly with conical surfaces 27c and26d, and inclined planar surfaces 27d and 26h. Thus the periphery of thepiston bottoms out to the periphery of the chamber end wall but theinner portions of the piston do not bottom out, thus forming awedge-shaped space which squeezes bubbles toward the central port anddown into the port and out through tubulation l2e.

Yet another air-entrainment control feature is provided in the form ofdouble seals 17 and 18 in series, and 21 and 22 in series, withrespective relief holes 14d and Me to ambient pressure, whereby sealleaks cannot result in pneumatic air leakage into fill fluid (or viceversa) but only to the ambient air and surrounds.

To align the system for operation, the bracket 28b is adjusted to bringbutton 29a into its just-fullydepressed state when the piston 27 isfully bottomed out in the chamber. The bracket 28a is then adjusted sothat button 30a is just fully depressed when the piston is raised to aposition which dispenses through tube 12d half the desired fill volumemaking appropriate allowance for the volume of the plunger with thechamber. This adjustment may be expedited in a variety of ways, such asthe use of graduations along member 28 or weighing the fluid dispensedinto a container while the container is still in position under thenozzle. In any event small adjustments will generally be required afterthe system is in operation to obtain an exactly accurate fill.

Rotation of the supply hood 50112 with respect to supply body 501a forthe purpose of selecting orifices to regulate flow rate andcorrespondingly for each of the other heads on the filler, all asdescribed with respect to orifices 1k and lj of FIGS. la, 1b and 1c isparticularly important in all multiple-head systems, including thatillustrated in FIG. 3, to equalize flow rates for the purposes set forthhereabove under Summary of the Invention.

Numerous other arrangements for connection of the valve 14 to chamber 26and to supply tank 42 and nozzle subassembly 1 are equivalent inoperation to that shown in FIG. 2. Some of these equivalents arepictured in FIGS. 2a through 2d. While the type of valve pictured inFIGS. 2 and 2a through 2d is particularly well suited to use with ahighly precise and rapid filling machine, other types of valvingproviding as does this type four flow paths, available in twocombinations, are in principle equivalent and may be substituted asappropriate.

The hardware at each head of FIG. 3 is highly similar to that indicatedin the system of FIG. 2. One important difference is that the pneumaticsensors 29, 30 and 31 and the pneumatic spool-shifting provisions ofFIG. 2 are here substituted for by electrical sensors 529, 530 and 531and electrical solenoids 570 and 569, for the head shown near theleft-hand side of the figure; correspondingly numbered elements with theprefix 6 for the head shown near right-center, and correspondinglynumbered elements with the prefix 7" for the head shown near the rightside of the figure. Another difference is that the connections betweenthe valves and supply nozzles have been shown somewhat morerealistically in FIG. 3 as comprising flexible sections 512h, 7l2h toaccommodate nozzle vertical motion. Another important difference is thatthe apparatus is here mounted and the bottles rest on a rotary platform89, and all of the other elements of the apparatus similarly rotate withplatform 89, through mechanical interconnections not illustrated withthe exception of tank 42, hand-operated sprocket 53, bell 390, relay 56,motor-gearbox 57-58 and electrical attachments thereto and gear 59driven thereby, pump 800, cams 43 and 66 and the various attachmentsthereto, all of which are stationary.

Wires to the various electrical components are connected as indicatedschematically in FIG. 3a, to obtain substantially the same logicalsequence-control functions as in FIG. 2, but here electrically. Whileconnections for only one head are shown in FIG. 3a, these connectionsare duplicated for each of the other heads of FIG. 3. Connections fromthe rotating platform to the stationary elements of the apparatus aremade via slipcontacts or brushes 931 for the hot power line, 969 for theground line, and 929 for the utilization means, here comprising a bell390, and a relay 56 for interrupting power to drive motor 57 to stoprotation of the apparatus in event a CONTAINER READY switch is actuatedbefore an IN switch. The CON- TAINER READY switches here are actuated bycam 66, suspended by hinge 65 from stationary plate 62. If desired toavoid the possibility of multiply overfilling a container in the eventthe rotary platform should stop with one of the CONTAINER READY switchesdepressed by cam 66, solenoid 67 may be positioned by bracket 64 andoperated in response to platform stoppage, by application of power viaconnections 63 to pull cam 66 out away from engagement position, andthen by interruption of power via connections 63 to the solenoid torelease the latter into engagement position subsequently when rotarymotion resumes.

As shown in FIG. 3 the raising and lowering of the nozzles is effectedby cam 43, shown partially cutaway, which raises the nozzles by pushingon suitably mounted cam followers fixed to the support staffs of thenozzle subassemblies. Here the followers are shown as convenientlymounted just behind the switches, on the respective staffs.

As in FIG. 2 the switches 529, 530 and so forth are mounted for verticaladjustment, so as to permit alignment and volume calibration as earlierdescribed. Here however there is an added important feature in themounting of all the OUT switches to a common plate 44, suspended bythreaded rods 45 from the upper rotating plate 60. The distance betweenplatform 89 and plate 44 is controlled by adjusting the distance betweenplates 44 and 60, and this in turn by adjusting the angular positions ofthe threaded rods 45.

The threaded rods in turn are rotated by sprockets 46, in turn operatedby chain or belt 61. The belt 61 is functionally connected by sprockets49a, 49, and 51, and belts S and 52, to sprocket wheel 53 and handle 54,stationarily mounted for rotation about the axis of wheel 53 as at 55.By this means common adjustment of the volumes dispensed at all theheads may be effected by manipulation of the handle 54 whether theplatform and the rest of the machine are rotating or not. When themachine is in operation and rotating, the handle 54 is continuallyturned by the action of belt 61 upon sprocket 49a; the handle may bemomentarily manually stopped, or pushed forward momentarily in the samedirection as its continual travel, to make a small adjustment in theheight of plate 44 and thereby the volumes dispensed from all the headsin common.

Bottles are loaded onto .the rotary platform 89 and unloaded therefromnear the right-hand end of the drawing, where as shown cam 43 causes thenozzles to be in raised position. The actuator as at 727f should innormal operation be fully down when the heads pass this point, andshould be only just beginning to rise as at 627f for heads which havejust passed cam 66. The system operation for heads in the position shownwith prefixes in the callouts, near the left-hand side of the drawing,corresponds generally to the phase of op eration represented in FIG. 2.

Suction lines 503C, 703c and so forth are connected by a conventionalrotary joint to suction line 803c from the pump 800.

The system of FIG. 4, like that of FIG. 2, employs pneumatic sensors andpneumatic actuation of the spool valve; it also employs pneumaticactuation via air cylinder 867 of cam 66. The elements of the head shownnear the left side of FIG. 4 correspond to those in FIGS. 2 and 3 withthe substitution of callout prefixes and the elements of the head shownnear the right side of FIG. 4 correspond similarly with the substitutionof callout prefixes ll.

Valve l038q from the high-pressure air supply 37 to air cylinder 867 isoperated to withdraw and release cam 66 in response to rotary-operationstoppage and resumption as described above for the solenoid operatingcam 66 with reference to FIG. 3.

However the system shown in FIG. 4 is different in the details of itssequence-control logic, by the addition of pneumatic SYSTEM READYpushbutton valves 1075, 1175, and so forth, mounted for rotation withthe upper plate. These valves are actuated by engagement with cam 76,stationarily mounted as by bracket 76a, to test the status of the INpushbuttons while the nozzles are out of the bottles, in advance of theengagement of cam 66 with pushbutton valves 11 31., 1031 and so forth.If as IN pushbutton such as 1029 is not properly depressed when thecorresponding SYSTEM READY pushbutton 1075 is actuated by cam 76,pneumatic signals pass to utilization means 938g for alarm and/orshutdown functions as previously described. By providing this SYSTEMREADY button-cam combination as a separate entity from the CONTAINERREADY buttons and cam 66, some additional latitude is gained in theexact positioning of CONTAINER READY cam 66 angularly with respect tonozzleraising cam 43 (FIG. 3). This can permit in some instances carefulsynchronization of the start of the piston cycle with respect to theopening of the nozzle; such careful synchronization is critical to avoidviolent sudsing of some liquids on pressurized discharge from thenozzle.

FIG. 4b shows in one drawing various features which may be incorporatedin the spool to provide external visibility of the position of the spoolwithin the valve barrel. The external spool extensions as 1215g, shownin earlier drawings, are reproduced here for completeness. A sectionl214h of the valve barrel may be constructed of transparent material topermit direct observation of the end 1215f of the spool. One of theisolation holes represented as 14d in FIG. 2 may be made large as at1214i in FIG. 4b (with suitable separation of the isolation seals at thetwo sides thereof), exposing a portion of the spool wall 1215b andsuitable indicial2l5h thereon. Again, these various features may beconsidered equivalent alternatives, any one of which may be employed,though some externally manipulable extension such as l2l5g is in anyevent desirable to permit freeing of the spool by a manually appliedblow or by automatic mechanical means.

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically the pneumatic connections for acase-at-a-time or in-line (line-at-a-time) filler. High-pressure airfrom a suitable compressor or other source enters the system at 895, andtraverses filter 894, pressure regulator 883 and oiler 893 whichprovides lubrication for the various pneumatic valves and otherpneumatically operated components. (These system elements 894, 883 and893 may be present in the other pneumatic systems hereinabovediscussed.) The 12 pushbutton valves 884 in series are IN sensorsanalogous in function to the lower section of valve 29 in FIG. 2, andthe 2 pushbutton valves 887 connected in parallel to manifold 896 areOUT sensors analogous to the valve 30 in FIG. 2.

Spool valve 888 is typical of 12 such valves connected between manifold890 and the respective pushbuttons 887, and is analogous in function tospool valve 14 of FIG. 2.

Nozzles 886 are representative of 12 nozzles identical in function tothe nozzle assembly of FIGS. 1a, lb, 10 and 2; these nozzles are raisedand lowered in common by air cylinder 885, in response respectively topneumatic signals at 885b and 885a respectively, applied from selectorvalve 884a which is in turn controlled pneumatically by signals at 898and 899 from foot-pedal-actuated selector valve 891.

When pressurized air is applied through valve 884a to line 885b to raisethe heads, this same line 885b also applies air to air motor 882 whichoperates vacuum pump 800a, fitted with muffler 876. The vacuum pumpapplies suction via manifold 878 to the various suction lines as 30 inFIG. 2, through separator bowl 879 which removes collected droplets fromthe suction path and deposits them via air-operated valve 880 incollector bottle 881. The air-operated valve also receives controllingair signals via 885b when the heads are raised (or rising); to closevalve 880 to obtain maximum suction; and to open valve 880 when theheads are lowered, to permit collected droplets to pass into bottle 881.(System elements 882, 876, 879, 880 and 881 may advantageously bepresent in certain of the other pneumatic systems hereinabovediscussed.)

To operate the system, with the heads initially all raised and the INbuttons 884 all depressed by their respective actuators (as 27f in FIG.2), and with a case of empty bottles in receiving position under theheads, the operator first operates pedal-actuated valve 891 to applypneumatic signal from 896 via 884 and 897 to line 898, which appliespilot air to shift the spool in valve 884, applying high-volume air flowto air cylinder 885 via line 885a to lower the heads.

The operator then actuates start valve 892 to shift the spool influid-control valve 888, and the other eleven valves of which it istypical, starting upward the volumetric pistons (not shown) operated byspool valves 888. As soon as this happens the IN buttons 884 are closedby deactuation on the part of their respective actuators (such as 27f ofFIG. 2), preventing any further effect on the system of manipulatingfoot-pedal selector valve 891, which may be released by the operator. Ifthe latter valve is spring-loaded it will return to a position whicheffects continuity between lines 897 and 899, but this has no observableeffect on the system at this point in the sequence: during filling theair cylinder 885 is locked out of operation by the interruption ofcontinuity at buttons 884, so that the operator cannot erroneouslyinitiate raising of the heads until the last one of the pistons hascompleted its cycle and restored continuity through buttons 884. First,however, the several rising pistons actuate their respective OUTbuttons, reversing the pistons at the tops oftheir respective strokesand continuing the filling cycles. When in fact the downward strokes arecomplete and continuity is restored through all buttons 884 the selectorvalve 891 can be reversed or if spring-loaded has already been reversedby earlier release of the foot pedal and the heads are raised togetherthrough application of air to cylinder 885 through 885b. The case offull bottles may then be removed, and a case of unfilled bottles placedin position for filling; the system is then ready to begin a new cycleof operation as above described.

I claim:

I. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from a sourcethereof, comprising:

a volumetric metering chamber adapted to be connected to receive suchsubstance from the source, and a bi-acting piston adapted for motionbetween predetermined limits within the chamber, for es- 5 tablishingcontrolled volumes of such substance;

a submersible nozzle, connected to receive such controlled volumes ofsubstance from the chamber, for discharge of such controlled volumesinto such containers; and means for consistently removing drops of suchsubstance from the nozzle tip after completion of each such discharge,without affecting the body of the substance in such container,comprising: means defining a vessel; means for establishing within thevessel a negative pressure with respect to ambient atmospheric pressure;

means providing physical communication between the interior of thevessel and the immediate vicinity of the nozzle tip; and

means for interrupting said communication during each such discharge,and after each such discharge while the nozzle tip contacts the body ofthe substance in such container;

whereby drops of substance are sucked via the physical communicationmeans and away from the immediate vicinity of the nozzle tip after eachsuch discharge, but not until the nozzle tip is moved out of contactwith the body of the substance.

2. A system for filling containers with flowable sub stance from asource thereof, comprising:

a volumetric metering chamber adapted for connec tion to receive suchsubstance from the source, and a bi-acting piston adapted for motionbetween predetermined limits within the chamber, for establishingcontrolled volumes of such substance;

a nozzle, connected to receive such controlled volumes of substance fromthe chamber, and adapted for insertion into such containers, fordischarge of such controlled volumes into such containers; and

means, responsive to insertion of the nozzle into such a container infilling position at the nozzle, for inhibiting discharge of suchmetering-chambercontrolled volumes of such substance in the absence of acontainer in such position;

whereby air within such container prior to filling is impelled outwardby the rising upper surface of flowable substance injected into suchcontainer below the mouth thereof, but no flowable sub stance isdischarged if no container is present in filling position.

3. A system for filling containers with flowable substance having lowviscosity, and for filling containers with flowable substance having atendency to form suds, from a source of such substance, comprising:

a volumetric metering chamber adapted for connection to receive suchsubstance from the source, and

a bi-acting piston adapted for motion between predetermined limitswithin the chamber to meter a predetermined volume of substance out ofthe chamber through an exhaust port thereof; the chamber having a numberof ports, said number ineluding a plurality of ports each of whichfunctions as an exhaust port of the chamber during operation of thesystem. each of said plurality of ports being at a respective elevation;

a dispensing nozzle for discharging such substance from a port of thechamber into each containers, said dispensing nozzle being at anelevation which is higher than the said elevation of each of the saidplurality of ports;

means, connected to the chamber and to the nozzle, defining a flow pathfrom a port of the chamber to the nozzle;

whereby bubbles in such substance within the chamber tend to escape,along the. flow path, by buoyancy to and through the nozzle.

4. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from a sourcethereof, comprising:

a volumetric metering chamber adapted to be connected to receive suchsubstance from the source and having an inner cylindrical surfaceterminating in at least one shaped end wall;

a port formed in the chamber at the same end of the chamber as the saidwall;

a bia-acting metering piston positioned within the chamber, and adaptedfor motion therein toward and awy from said one end wall, to meterpredetermined volumes of such substance out of the chamber via the portto such containers; and having an end surface facing said one end'wall;

the end surface and end wall being so shaped as to expel from thechamber via the port any gas bubbles within the chamber, at the end ofthe exhaust stroke when the said end surface most closely approaches theend wall;

whereby metering accuracy is protected from degradation due to gasbubbles trapped within the chamber.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the end surface and end wall are both inclined relative to the diameterof the cylindrical chamber, the respective inclinations being slightlydifferent so that at the end of the exhaust stroke when the end surfacemost closely approaches the end wall the space between surface and wallis thickest in a region adjacent the port; 7

whereby bubbles in the chamber tend to be squeezed out of the chambervia the port, at the end of the exhaust stroke.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the end surface and end wall are both substantially conical, the apexangle of the conical end wall being slightly smaller than the apex angleof the conical end surface; and

the port is formed substantially in the center of the end wall, wherebybubbles tend to be squeezed toward the center of the end wall and outthrough the port.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the end surface is formed with a projection closely fitted to the port,to further augment expulsion of bubbles therethrough.

8. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from a supplythereof, comprising:

a multiplicity of piston-chamber combinations, each having:

a bi-acting piston, and means defining a closelyfitted chamber adaptedto be connected to receive such substance from the supply, and enclosingthe piston slidably between controlled limits, for metering preciselycontrolled volumes of such substance from the supply thereof;

discharge means connected to receive such metered volumes of substancefrom the chamber and to discharge such volumes into such containers;

means defining anactuating surface movable with the piston;

limit means, fixed relative to the chamber and located and adapted toengage the actuating surface, for defining one end of the piston stroke;and

means, responsive to manual manipulation, for effecting relativelongitudinal adjustment of the actuating surface and limit means;

whereby the overall volume of such substance metered by the piston andchamber from the supply into each container is adjustable bymanipulation of the said adjustment-effecting means;

and all of said combinations operating concurrently to fill amultiplicity of containers concurrently; and

means for simultaneous adjustment, from a common control, of therelative positions of the entire multiplicity of actuating surfaces,each with respect to its respective limit means;

whereby the overall volume dispensed from each of the multiplicity ofpiston-chamber combinations is adjustable in common with that from eachof the others of the multiplicity, even while the system is operating.

9. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from a supplythereof, comprising:

a multiplicity of piston-chamber-plunger combinations, each having:

a bi-acting piston, and means defining a closelyfitted chamber adaptedto be connected to receive such substance from the supply, and enclosingthe piston slidably between controlled limits, for metering preciselycontrolled volumes of such substance from the supply thereof;

discharge means connected to receive such metered volumes of substancefrom the chamber and to discharge such volumes into such containers;

a plunger attached to and movable with the piston.

and extending longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinalsliding motion thereof, through a compliantly-sealed aperture in the endwall of the chamber;

actuating means secured to the end of the plunger outside the chamberand remote from the end fixed to the piston;

limit means, fixed relative to the chamber and located and adapted toengage the actuating means, for defining one end of the piston stroke;and

means, responsive to manual manipulation, for effecting relativelongitudinal adjustment of the actuating means and limit means;

whereby the overall volume of such substance metered by the piston andchamber from the supply into each container is adjustable bymanipulation of the said adjustment-effecting means;

and all of said combinations operating concurrently to fill amultiplicity of containers concurrently; and

means for simultaneous adjustment. from a common control, of therelative positions of the entire multiplicity f actuating means, eachwith respect to its respective limit means;

whereby the overall volume dispensed from each of the multiplicity ofpiston-chamber-plunger combinations is adjustable in common with thefrom each of the others of the multiplicity, even while the system isoperating.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the simultaneous adjustment meanscomprise:

means for mounting the entire multiplicity of chambers for mutuallyaccurately parallel motion of all the pistons and plungers; and

means for mounting the entire multiplicity of limit means individuallyto a common plate, the said plate being mounted adjustably for motionaccurately parallel to the said mutual parallel motion, therebyproviding adjustment of the said one end of each pistons stroke byaccurately equal increments from a single common control.

11. A system for filling containers with flowable substance, from asupply of such substance, comprising:

a submersible nozzle adapted for insertion into such containers andhaving a closure device at its tip to prevent uncontrolled discharge ofsubstance therefrom;

means defining a chamber having a longitudinal direction, and connectedto receive such substance from such supply, and connected to dispensesuch substance to the nozzle;

a bi-acting piston enclosed within the chamber for closely-fittedlongitudinal sliding motion therein, for metering precisely controlledvolumes of such substance from such supply through the submersiblenozzle into such containers;

control-system means responsive to the piston, and comprising at leastone piston-responsive member which is secured relative to the chamber,for reversing motion of the piston at each end of its stroke;

actuating-surface defining means which move with the pistonlongitudinally;

solid positive-stop means, longitudinally fixed relative to the chamber,and located and adapted to engage the actuating-surface defining meansto positively halt the piston at each end of its stroke; and

means for adjusting the distance which the piston may movelongitudinally relative to the cylinder, between the two points at whichthe control-system means respond to the piston, and between the twopoints at which the actuating-surface defining means engage the solidpositive-stop means;

whereby the amplitude of piston excursion is posi tively but adjustablydefined, and thus the metered volumes of such substances aresubstantially free of variation due to any time delay in operation ofthe control-system means.

12. A system for filling containers with flowable substance, comprising:

a supply of such substance;

a plurality of volumetric metering chambers, each having a correspondingbi-acting piston adapted for motion within that chamber and betweenpredetermined limits, for establishing individually controlled volumesof such substance;

plural dispensing means for discharging such substance into suchcontainers;

means connected to the supply, the chambers and the dispensing means,and defining a corresponding plurality of flow paths from the supply tothe dispensing means via the chambers and pistons; and

means disposed along the flow paths for individually adjusting thedischarge flow rates of such substance;

whereby the flow rates to the respective containers may be equalized.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the rate-adjusting means comprise,for each of at least all but one of the said plurality of flow paths,respectively:

means defining a plurality of orifices of different sizes and adaptedfor passage of such flowable substance;

adjustment means for selectably positioning any of the orifices alongthe flow path, for passage of such substance therethrough.

14. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from asupply thereof, comprising:

a volumetric metering chamber and a bi-acting piston, adapted for motionbetween predetermined limits within the chamber, for establishingcontrolled volumes of such substance;

discharge means for dispensing such substance into such containers;

a multiple-port valve connected to ports at the two ends of the chamberand to the discharge means; and adapted to be connected to the supply;and having enclosed a spool which when cycling properly is drivenbetween two positions in response to completion of motion by the pistonin its two directions respectively; and which functions when in one ofthe two positions to direct such substance from the supply into a firstport at one end of the chamber, and to direct such substance from asecond port at the other end of the chamber to the discharge means; andwhich functions when in the other of the two positions to direct suchsubstance from the supply into the said second port and from the saidfirst port to the discharge means;

the sliding motion of the spool within the valve being subject toobjectionable static friction interfering with proper cycling; and

means for indicating to a human operator when the spool moves from oneof its positions to the other, whereby proper cycling may be verified.

15. A system for filling containers with flowable substance, comprising:

supply means for storing a supply of such substance;

volumetric metering means for conducting precisely controlled volumes ofsuch substance from the supply means, the metering means being sealedagainst entry of air from containers being filled;

dispensing means, having a submersible portion defining a dispensingorifice, for conducting the volumes of substance from the metering meansinto such containers;

positioning means, attached to the dispensing means, for moving thesubmersible portion into dispensing position within such container; and

control means, also attached to the dispensing means, for sealing thedispensing orifice at its tip when the submersible portion is not indispensing position;

whereby the dispensing orifice if opened at its tip to communicate thesupply means with such containers via the metering means only when thesubmersible portion is in dispensing position, thereby avoidinguncontrolled release of such substance from the dispensing orifice.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the control means are responsive to physical engagement of a portion ofthe system with such container.

17. The system of claim wherein:

the control means prevents admission of air into the system via thedispensing orifice.

18. A system for filling containers with flowable substance, comprising:

supply means for storing a supply of such substance;

volumetric metering means for conducting precisely controlled volumes ofsuch substance from the supply means;

dispensing means, having a submersible portion defining a dispensingorifice, for conducting the volumes of substance from the metering meansinto such containers;

positioning means, attached to the dispensing means, for moving thesubmersible portion into dispensing position within such containers;

control means, 'also attached to the dispensing means, for sealing thedispensing orifice at its tip when the submersible portion is not indispensing position;

whereby the dispensing orifice is opened at its tip to communicate thesupply means with such containers via the metering means only when thesubmersible portion is in dispensing position, thereby avoidinguncontrolled release of such substances from the dispensing orifice;

vacuum means, comprising a vacuum vessel, for developing and maintaininga negative pressure differential, with respect to atmospheric pressure,within the vacuum vessel;

suction means, defining conduits connected with the vessel and with thedispensing means, and defining a drip-catching second orifice, forproviding sealed physical communication between the vessel and thevicinity of the submersible portion of the dispensing means;

secondary control means, operable upon the suction means, forinterrupting sealed physical communication between the second orificeand the vacuum vessel via the conduits, when the submersible portion ofthe dispensing means is in or nearly in dispensing position; and forrestoring sealed physical communication between the second orifice andthe vacuum vessel when the submersible portion of the dispensing meansis not in or nearly in dispensing position;

whereby the second orifice provides suction at the submersible portionof the dispensing means, but only above the instantaneous level ofsubstance within the container, for removing drips subsequent tofilling.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein:

the suction means also define a third orifice communicating between theconduits and the ambient air; and

the secondary control means comprise means for sealing the third orificewhen the submersible portion of the dispensing means is not in or nearlyin dispensing position; and for unsealing the third orifice, tosubstantially remove suction at the submersible portion of thedispensing means, when the submersible portion is in or nearly indispensing position. 5 20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the third orifice is disposed near the position of the container mouthduring filling; whereby the third orifice provides suction at the mouthof the container, but always above the substance level in the container,for assistance in air removal from the container and for catching spray,during filling. 21. A system for filling containers with flowablesubstance, comprising:

supply means for storing a supply of such substance; volumetric meteringmeans, for conducting, precisely controlled volumes of such substancefrom the supply means, comprising:

means defining a cylindrical chamber and defining a plurality of portstherein, at least one port at each end of the chamber;

a piston closely and slidably fitted within the chamber;

compliant means for effecting a sliding seal between the outercircumference of the piston and the inner surface of the chamber,whereby the piston forms a movable wall cooperating with the firstmentioned defining means to define first and second subchambers, eachhaving at lest one port;

a multiport spool valve connected to the two said ports in the chamber,and also connected to receive such substance from the supply means, andalso connected to discharge such substance to the dispensing meansrecited hereunder, all as follows:

during a first half-cycle of operation, providing physical communicationbetween the first subchamber and the supply means, whereby pressurizedsubstance from the supply means forcibly moves the cylinder, enlargingthe first subchamber and reducing the second subchamber, filling thefirst subchamber with such substance; and providing physicalcommunication between the second subchamber and the dispensing means,whereby reduction of the second subchamber forcibly moves such substanceout of the second subchamber to the dispensing means; and

during a second half-cycle of operation, reversing the physicalcommunication connections and thereby the functions of the twosubchambers; whereby in each full cycle of operation the dispensingmeans receive a controlled volume of substance equal to twice the volumeswept through by the piston in one stroke;

dispensing means, having a submersible portion defining a dispensingorifice, for conducting the volumes of substance from the metering meansinto such containers; positioning means, attached to the dispensingmeans, for moving the submersible portion into dispensing positionwithin such containers; and 65 control means, also attached to thedispensing means, for sealing the dispensing orifice at its tip when thesubmersible portion is not in dispensing position;

1. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from a sourcethereof, comprising: a volumetric metering chamber adapted to beconnected to receive such substance from the source, and a bi-actingpiston adapted for motion between predetermined limits within thechamber, for establishing controlled volumes of such substance; asubmersible nozzle, connected to receive such controlled volumes ofsubstance from the chamber, for discharge of such controlled volumesinto such containers; and means for consistently removing drops of suchsubstance from the nozzle tip after completion of each such discharge,without affecting the body of tHe substance in such container,comprising: means defining a vessel; means for establishing within thevessel a negative pressure with respect to ambient atmospheric pressure;means providing physical communication between the interior of thevessel and the immediate vicinity of the nozzle tip; and means forinterrupting said communication during each such discharge, and aftereach such discharge while the nozzle tip contacts the body of thesubstance in such container; whereby drops of substance are sucked viathe physical communication means and away from the immediate vicinity ofthe nozzle tip after each such discharge, but not until the nozzle tipis moved out of contact with the body of the substance.
 2. A system forfilling containers with flowable substance from a source thereof,comprising: a volumetric metering chamber adapted for connection toreceive such substance from the source, and a bi-acting piston adaptedfor motion between predetermined limits within the chamber, forestablishing controlled volumes of such substance; a nozzle, connectedto receive such controlled volumes of substance from the chamber, andadapted for insertion into such containers, for discharge of suchcontrolled volumes into such containers; and means, responsive toinsertion of the nozzle into such a container in filling position at thenozzle, for inhibiting discharge of such metering-chamber-controlledvolumes of such substance in the absence of a container in suchposition; whereby air within such container prior to filling is impelledoutward by the rising upper surface of flowable substance injected intosuch container below the mouth thereof, but no flowable substance isdischarged if no container is present in filling position.
 3. A systemfor filling containers with flowable substance having low viscosity, andfor filling containers with flowable substance having a tendency to formsuds, from a source of such substance, comprising: a volumetric meteringchamber adapted for connection to receive such substance from thesource, and a bi-acting piston adapted for motion between predeterminedlimits within the chamber to meter a predetermined volume of substanceout of the chamber through an exhaust port thereof; the chamber having anumber of ports, said number including a plurality of ports each ofwhich functions as an exhaust port of the chamber during operation ofthe system, each of said plurality of ports being at a respectiveelevation; a dispensing nozzle for discharging such substance from aport of the chamber into such containers, said dispensing nozzle beingat an elevation which is higher than the said elevation of each of thesaid plurality of ports; means, connected to the chamber and to thenozzle, defining a flow path from a port of the chamber to the nozzle;whereby bubbles in such substance within the chamber tend to escape,along the flow path, by buoyancy to and through the nozzle.
 4. A systemfor filling containers with flowable substance from a source thereof,comprising: a volumetric metering chamber adapted to be connected toreceive such substance from the source and having an inner cylindricalsurface terminating in at least one shaped end wall; a port formed inthe chamber at the same end of the chamber as the said wall; a bi-actingmetering piston positioned within the chamber, and adapted for motiontherein toward and away from said one end wall, to meter predeterminedvolumes of such substance out of the chamber via the port to suchcontainers; and having an end surface facing said one end wall; the endsurface and end wall being so shaped as to expel from the chamber viathe port any gas bubbles within the chamber, at the end of the exhauststroke when the said end surface most closely approaches the end wall;whereby metering accuracy is protected from degradation due to gasbubbles trapped within the chamber.
 5. The system of claim 4, whereIn:the end surface and end wall are both inclined relative to the diameterof the cylindrical chamber, the respective inclinations being slightlydifferent so that at the end of the exhaust stroke when the end surfacemost closely approaches the end wall the space between surface and wallis thickest in a region adjacent the port; whereby bubbles in thechamber tend to be squeezed out of the chamber via the port, at the endof the exhaust stroke.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein: the endsurface and end wall are both substantially conical, the apex angle ofthe conical end wall being slightly smaller than the apex angle of theconical end surface; and the port is formed substantially in the centerof the end wall, whereby bubbles tend to be squeezed toward the centerof the end wall and out through the port.
 7. The system of claim 6,wherein: the end surface is formed with a projection closely fitted tothe port, to further augment expulsion of bubbles therethrough.
 8. Asystem for filling containers with flowable substance from a supplythereof, comprising: a multiplicity of piston-chamber combinations, eachhaving: a bi-acting piston, and means defining a closely-fitted chamberadapted to be connected to receive such substance from the supply, andenclosing the piston slidably between controlled limits, for meteringprecisely controlled volumes of such substance from the supply thereof;discharge means connected to receive such metered volumes of substancefrom the chamber and to discharge such volumes into such containers;means defining an actuating surface movable with the piston; limitmeans, fixed relative to the chamber and located and adapted to engagethe actuating surface, for defining one end of the piston stroke; andmeans, responsive to manual manipulation, for effecting relativelongitudinal adjustment of the actuating surface and limit means;whereby the overall volume of such substance metered by the piston andchamber from the supply into each container is adjustable bymanipulation of the said adjustment-effecting means; and all of saidcombinations operating concurrently to fill a multiplicity of containersconcurrently; and means for simultaneous adjustment, from a commoncontrol, of the relative positions of the entire multiplicity ofactuating surfaces, each with respect to its respective limit means;whereby the overall volume dispensed from each of the multiplicity ofpiston-chamber combinations is adjustable in common with that from eachof the others of the multiplicity, even while the system is operating.9. A system for filling containers with flowable substance from a supplythereof, comprising: a multiplicity of piston-chamber-plungercombinations, each having: a bi-acting piston, and means defining aclosely-fitted chamber adapted to be connected to receive such substancefrom the supply, and enclosing the piston slidably between controlledlimits, for metering precisely controlled volumes of such substance fromthe supply thereof; discharge means connected to receive such meteredvolumes of substance from the chamber and to discharge such volumes intosuch containers; a plunger attached to and movable with the piston, andextending longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinalsliding motion thereof, through a compliantly-sealed aperture in the endwall of the chamber; actuating means secured to the end of the plungeroutside the chamber and remote from the end fixed to the piston; limitmeans, fixed relative to the chamber and located and adapted to engagethe actuating means, for defining one end of the piston stroke; andmeans, responsive to manual manipulation, for effecting relativelongitudinal adjustment of the actuating means and limit means; wherebythe overall volume of such substance metered by the piston and chamberfrom the supply into each container is adjustable by manipulatIon of thesaid adjustment-effecting means; and all of said combinations operatingconcurrently to fill a multiplicity of containers concurrently; andmeans for simultaneous adjustment, from a common control, of therelative positions of the entire multiplicity of actuating means, eachwith respect to its respective limit means; whereby the overall volumedispensed from each of the multiplicity of piston-chamber-plungercombinations is adjustable in common with that from each of the othersof the multiplicity, even while the system is operating.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the simultaneous adjustment means comprise: meansfor mounting the entire multiplicity of chambers for mutually accuratelyparallel motion of all the pistons and plungers; and means for mountingthe entire multiplicity of limit means individually to a common plate,the said plate being mounted adjustably for motion accurately parallelto the said mutual parallel motion, thereby providing adjustment of thesaid one end of each piston''s stroke by accurately equal incrementsfrom a single common control.
 11. A system for filling containers withflowable substance, from a supply of such substance, comprising: asubmersible nozzle adapted for insertion into such containers and havinga closure device at its tip to prevent uncontrolled discharge ofsubstance therefrom; means defining a chamber having a longitudinaldirection, and connected to receive such substance from such supply, andconnected to dispense such substance to the nozzle; a bi-acting pistonenclosed within the chamber for closely-fitted longitudinal slidingmotion therein, for metering precisely controlled volumes of suchsubstance from such supply through the submersible nozzle into suchcontainers; control-system means responsive to the piston, andcomprising at least one piston-responsive member which is securedrelative to the chamber, for reversing motion of the piston at each endof its stroke; actuating-surface defining means which move with thepiston longitudinally; solid positive-stop means, longitudinally fixedrelative to the chamber, and located and adapted to engage theactuating-surface defining means to positively halt the piston at eachend of its stroke; and means for adjusting the distance which the pistonmay move longitudinally relative to the cylinder, between the two pointsat which the control-system means respond to the piston, and between thetwo points at which the actuating-surface defining means engage thesolid positive-stop means; whereby the amplitude of piston excursion ispositively but adjustably defined, and thus the metered volumes of suchsubstance are substantially free of variation due to any time delay inoperation of the control-system means.
 12. A system for fillingcontainers with flowable substance, comprising: a supply of suchsubstance; a plurality of volumetric metering chambers, each having acorresponding bi-acting piston adapted for motion within that chamberand between predetermined limits, for establishing individuallycontrolled volumes of such substance; plural dispensing means fordischarging such substance into such containers; means connected to thesupply, the chambers and the dispensing means, and defining acorresponding plurality of flow paths from the supply to the dispensingmeans via the chambers and pistons; and means disposed along the flowpaths for individually adjusting the discharge flow rates of suchsubstance; whereby the flow rates to the respective containers may beequalized.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the rate-adjusting meanscomprise, for each of at least all but one of the said plurality of flowpaths, respectively: means defining a plurality of orifices of differentsizes and adapted for passage of such flowable substance; adjustmentmeans for selectably positioning any of the orifices along the flowpath, for passage of Such substance therethrough.
 14. A system forfilling containers with flowable substance from a supply thereof,comprising: a volumetric metering chamber and a bi-acting piston,adapted for motion between predetermined limits within the chamber, forestablishing controlled volumes of such substance; discharge means fordispensing such substance into such containers; a multiple-port valveconnected to ports at the two ends of the chamber and to the dischargemeans; and adapted to be connected to the supply; and having enclosed aspool which when cycling properly is driven between two positions inresponse to completion of motion by the piston in its two directionsrespectively; and which functions when in one of the two positions todirect such substance from the supply into a first port at one end ofthe chamber, and to direct such substance from a second port at theother end of the chamber to the discharge means; and which functionswhen in the other of the two positions to direct such substance from thesupply into the said second port and from the said first port to thedischarge means; the sliding motion of the spool within the valve beingsubject to objectionable static friction interfering with propercycling; and means for indicating to a human operator when the spoolmoves from one of its positions to the other, whereby proper cycling maybe verified.
 15. A system for filling containers with flowablesubstance, comprising: supply means for storing a supply of suchsubstance; volumetric metering means for conducting precisely controlledvolumes of such substance from the supply means, the metering meansbeing sealed against entry of air from containers being filled;dispensing means, having a submersible portion defining a dispensingorifice, for conducting the volumes of substance from the metering meansinto such containers; positioning means, attached to the dispensingmeans, for moving the submersible portion into dispensing positionwithin such containers; and control means, also attached to thedispensing means, for sealing the dispensing orifice at its tip when thesubmersible portion is not in dispensing position; whereby thedispensing orifice is opened at its tip to communicate the supply meanswith such containers via the metering means only when the submersibleportion is in dispensing position, thereby avoiding uncontrolled releaseof such substance from the dispensing orifice.
 16. The system of claim15, wherein: the control means are responsive to physical engagement ofa portion of the system with such container.
 17. The system of claim 15wherein: the control means prevents admission of 15, into the system viathe dispensing orifice.
 18. A system for filling containers withflowable substance, comprising: supply means for storing a supply ofsuch substance; volumetric metering means for conducting preciselycontrolled volumes of such substance from the supply means; dispensingmeans, having a submersible portion defining a dispensing orifice, forconducting the volumes of substance from the metering means into suchcontainers; positioning means, attached to the dispensing means, formoving the submersible portion into dispensing position within suchcontainers; control means, also attached to the dispensing means, forsealing the dispensing orifice at its tip when the submersible portionis not in dispensing position; whereby the dispensing orifice is openedat its tip to communicate the supply means with such containers via themetering means only when the submersible portion is in dispensingposition, thereby avoiding uncontrolled release of such substances fromthe dispensing orifice; vacuum means, comprising a vacuum vessel, fordeveloping and maintaining a negative pressure differential, withrespect to atmospheric pressure, within the vacuum vessel; suctionmeans, defining conduits connected with the vesseL and with thedispensing means, and defining a drip-catching second orifice, forproviding sealed physical communication between the vessel and thevicinity of the submersible portion of the dispensing means; secondarycontrol means, operable upon the suction means, for interrupting sealedphysical communication between the second orifice and the vacuum vesselvia the conduits, when the submersible portion of the dispensing meansis in or nearly in dispensing position; and for restoring sealedphysical communication between the second orifice and the vacuum vesselwhen the submersible portion of the dispensing means is not in or nearlyin dispensing position; whereby the second orifice provides suction atthe submersible portion of the dispensing means, but only above theinstantaneous level of substance within the container, for removingdrips subsequent to filling.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein: thesuction means also define a third orifice communicating between theconduits and the ambient air; and the secondary control means comprisemeans for sealing the third orifice when the submersible portion of thedispensing means is not in or nearly in dispensing position; and forunsealing the third orifice, to substantially remove suction at thesubmersible portion of the dispensing means, when the submersibleportion is in or nearly in dispensing position.
 20. The system of claim19, wherein: the third orifice is disposed near the position of thecontainer mouth during filling; whereby the third orifice providessuction at the mouth of the container, but always above the substancelevel in the container, for assistance in air removal from the containerand for catching spray, during filling.
 21. A system for fillingcontainers with flowable substance, comprising: supply means for storinga supply of such substance; volumetric metering means, for conductingprecisely controlled volumes of such substance from the supply means,comprising: means defining a cylindrical chamber and defining aplurality of ports therein, at least one port at each end of thechamber; a piston closely and slidably fitted within the chamber;compliant means for effecting a sliding seal between the outercircumference of the piston and the inner surface of the chamber,whereby the piston forms a movable wall cooperating with the firstmentioned defining means to define first and second subchambers, eachhaving at least one port; a multiport spool valve connected to the twosaid ports in the chamber, and also connected to receive such substancefrom the supply means, and also connected to discharge such substance tothe dispensing means recited hereunder, all as follows: during a firsthalf-cycle of operation, providing physical communication between thefirst subchamber and the supply means, whereby pressurized substancefrom the supply means forcibly moves the cylinder, enlarging the firstsubchamber and reducing the second subchamber, filling the firstsubchamber with such substance; and providing physical communicationbetween the second subchamber and the dispensing means, wherebyreduction of the second subchamber forcibly moves such substance out ofthe second subchamber to the dispensing means; and during a secondhalf-cycle of operation, reversing the physical communicationconnections and thereby the functions of the two subchambers; whereby ineach full cycle of operation the dispensing means receive a controlledvolume of substance equal to twice the volume swept through by thepiston in one stroke; dispensing means, having a submersible portiondefining a dispensing orifice, for conducting the volumes of substancefrom the metering means into such containers; positioning means,attached to the dispensing means, for moving the submersible portioninto dispensing position within such containers; and control means, alsoattached to the dispensing means, for sealing the dispensing orifice atits tip when the submersible portion is not in dispensing position;whereby the dispensing orifice is opened at its tip to communicate thesupply means with such containers via the metering means only when thesubmersible portion is in dispensing position, thereby avoidinguncontrolled release of such substances from the dispensing orifice. 22.In a system for filling containers with flowable substance from a supplythereof, a filling nozzle comprising: means defining a support for suchcontainers to be filled; a supply body having: a depending hood providedwith seals for sliding relative motion of a tubing section in aconstantly sealed relation therewith; a depending tip-support structureand at the remote lower end thereof an integrally attached formed tip,the tip being provided with at least one tip seal for sealing engagementof at least one tubing section through relative longitudinal motiontherewith, and an internal passageway, adapted for connection to thesupply, for flow of such substance into the hood from the supply; meansfor effecting vertical relative motion between the support-definingmeans and the supply body; a supply sleeve comprising a tubing sectionmounted for longitudinal sliding relative motion in a constantly sealedrelation with the hood and adapted for longitudinal compressive sealingengagement with the tip, and adapted to provide conduction of substancefrom the body to the vicinity of the tip; first compliant means limitinglongitudinal motion of the supply sleeve toward the body hood; andmeans, connected with the supply sleeve, and adapted for and responsiveto engagement with such container to be filled, for urging the supplysleeve toward the body hood, acting against the compliance of the saidfirst compliant means, only when the bottom of the supply sleeve isinserted into such container to be filled; whereby longitudinalseparation of the supply sleeve from sealing relation with the tip, topermit flow of substance from the supply via the sleeve into suchcontainer only when the bottom of the supply sleeve is inserted belowthe mouth of a container to be filled, is controlled by transmission ofcompressive force to the supply sleeve by the said urging means, from acontainer to be filled, as the supply body and the support are movedcloser together by the relative-motion-effecting means; and whereby airwithin such container before filling is impelled outward by the risingupper surface of flowable substance injected into such container belowthe mouth thereof.
 23. In the system of claim 22, the filling nozzle astherein claimed in an antidrip embodiment additionally comprising: avacuum hood comprising a tubing section mounted for longitudinal slidingrelative motion about the centerpin and supply sleeve, and forlongitudinal compressive engagement with the tip, and adapted to providecommunication between a point above at least one of said tip seals and apartially evacuated chamber; the said tip also having formed within it asuction conduit from the vicinity of the lower extremity of the tip to apoint above at least one of said tip seals, for sucking substancedroplets from the lower extremity of the tip into the vacuum hood andtoward the partially evacuated chamber; and second compliant meanslimiting longitudinal relative insertion of the supply sleeve into thevacuum hood and the said supply-sleeve-urging means comprising means,connected with the vacuum hood, and adapted for and responsive toengagement with such container to be filled, for urging the vacuum hoodtoward greater relative insertion of the supply sleeve thereinto, actingagainst the compliance of the said second compliant means and therebyalso urging the supply sleeve toward the body hood, only when the bottomof the supply sleeve is inserted into such container to be filled;whereby longitudinal separation of the vacuum hood from sealing relationwith the tip, to interrupt sucking of substance droplets from thevicinity of the lower extremity of the tip via said conduit toward thepartially evacuated chamber when the bottom of the supply sleeve iswithin a container to be filled, is controlled by transmission ofcompressive force upon the vacuum hood via the said vacuum-hood-urgingmeans from a container to be filled, as the supply body and the supportare moved closer together by the relative-motion-effecting means; andwhereby the said sucking of substance from the vicinity of the lowerextremity of the tip is interrupted during said flow of substance fromthe supply via the sleeve into such container.
 24. A system for fillingcontainers with flowable substance from a supply thereof, comprising: abi-acting piston, and means defining a closely-fitted chamber enclosingthe piston slidably for motion of the piston between controlled limits,for metering precisely-controlled volumes of such substance conductedvia supply tubulations into the chamber from the supply; dispensingmeans, connected to receive said volumes of substance from the chamber,for discharging said volumes into such containers; and means forremoving air from the supply tubulations, comprising: means forming asection of the supply tubulations and defining a flow path, for suchsubstance, whose cross-sectional area and length in relation to thevelocity and viscosity of substance conducted therethrough aresufficiently large to permit rising of air bubbles within such movingsubstance from the bottom to the top of the said flow path during thetime such substance traverses the length of the flow path; meansdefining an air-entrapment dome and an inlet thereto disposed forcommunication with the top of the said flow path and toward thedownstream end of the said length thereof; and release means, responsiveto the quantity of air accumulated within the dome, for discharging airfrom the dome to maintain the substance level therein above the top ofthe flow path; whereby the precise control of said volumes dischargedinto such containers is protected from degradation which would otherwiseresult from discharge of entrained air with such substance.
 25. Thesystem of claim 24, also comprising: a four-way, five-port valve foreffecting bidirectional fluid flow to and from the metering piston andchamber; pneumatic control mechanisms for effecting reversal of thevalve, and therefore the piston; means defining an orifice anddispensing passageways for conducting the volumes of such substance fromthe piston and chamber into such containers; first pressurization meansfor pressurizing the supply of substance so as to provide such substanceto the flow path, tubulations, piston, chamber, passageways, orifice andvalve at a first positive pressure relative to ambient atmospheric;second pressurization means for pressurizing air so as to provide air tothe pneumatic controls at a second positive pressure relative to ambientatmospheric, the second pressure being higher than the first; pneumaticconduits and cavities providing physical communication between thepneumatic controls and the second pressurization means; and isolatingmeans for preventing transfer of air from the conduits, cavities andcontrols into the tubulations, flow path, chamber, passageways andvalve, the said isolating means comprising: dual sealing meansintermediate between (1) on the one hand, each of the chamber,passageway and valve; and (2) on the other hand, each pressurizedpneumatic conduit, cavity and control device; the dual sealing meanscomprising in series: a first compliant seal exposed on one functionalside to the substance at said first pressure and exposed on a secondfunctional side to ambient air at atmospheric pressure; and a secondcompliant seal exposed on one functional side to ambient air atatmospheric pressure and on a second functional side to the pressurizedaIr at said second pressure; whereby partial failure of such first sealproduces pressurized leakage of such substance to ambient, and partialfailure of such second seal produces pressurized leakage of compressedair to ambient; but in no case can second compliant seal failure produceleakage of compressed air into the tubulations, chamber, passageways andvalve containing the substance; and in no case can first compliant sealfailure produce leakage of the substance into the conduit, cavity andcontrol devices containing the compressed air.
 26. A system for fillingcontainers with flowable substance from a supply of such substance,comprising: a bi-acting piston, and means defining a closely-fittedchamber enclosing the piston slidably between controlled limits, formetering precisely controlled volumes of such substance from the supply;means defining an actuating surface movable with the piston in an''''in'''' direction and in an ''''out'''' direction relative to thechamber; a plurality of sensing means disposed for actuation by theactuating surface, so as to sense the progress of the piston to and fromits respective operating limits, and thereby when suitably excited togenerate functional signals of such progress, the said plurality ofsensing means comprising ''''IN'''' sensing means disposed to sensepositioning of the piston at a first one of its two operating limits;and in addition ''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing means disposed to sense aready condition of the system with respect to filling a particularcontainer; a valve, having a plurality of ports, adapted to be connectedto receive such substance from the supply and also connected to deliversuch substance to the metering piston and chamber, and further adaptedand connected to effect bidirectionality of fluid flow to and from themetering piston and chamber; the said valve having a spool with aplurality of necked-down portions formed therein, and the said spoolbeing driven, in response to the said functional signals, between twoalternative positions corresponding to and inducing the two alternativedirections of fluid flow to and from the metering piston and chamber;dispensing means comprising: means defining an orifice and a dispensingpassageway, connected with the said valve, for conducting the volume ofsubstance from the piston and chamber via the valve into suchcontainers; and orifice-control means, responsive to engagement of acomponent of the dispensing means with such container, for effectingdischarge of such substance only in the presence of a container and forpreventing admission of air via said orifice into the passageway; andfirst functional-signal interconnection means between sensing means andspool valve, adapted to drive the valve-spool to its position whichinitiates actuating-surface motion away from the ''''IN'''' sensingmeans only when the ''''IN'''' and ''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing meansare initially simultaneously actuated; whereby initiation of eachhalf-cycle of operation away from the ''''IN'''' sensing means iscontingent upon completion of the previous half-cycle of operationtoward the ''''IN'''' sensing means; and second functional-signalinterconnection means between the sensing means and a signal-utilizationmeans, for actuation of the signal-utilization means if the ''''SYSTEMREADY'''' sensing means are actuated but the ''''IN'''' sensing meansare not actuated; whereby further system operation may be madecontingent upon response to the signal-utilization means.
 27. A systemfor filling containers with flowable substance from a supply of suchsubstance, comprising: a bi-acting piston, and means defining aclosely-fitted chamber enclosing the piston slidably between controlledlimits, for metering precisely controlled volumes of such substance fromthe supply; and in conjunction: a plunger attached to and movable withthe piston, and extending loNgitudinally in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal sliding motion of the piston relative to its chamber,through an aperture formed in an end wall of the chamber, the aperturebeing provided with compliant seal means to permit sliding motion of theplunger therethrough in an ''''in'''' direction and in an ''''out''''direction while maintaining pressurization of the chamber; actuatingmeans secured to the end of the plunger outside the chamber and remotefrom the end fixed to the piston; a plurality of sensing means disposedfor actuation by the actuating means, so as to sense the progress of theplunger to and from its respective operating limits, and thereby whensuitably excited to generate functional signals of such progress; thesaid plurality of sensing means comprising ''''IN'''' sensing meansdisposed to sense positioning of the plunger at a first one of its twooperating limits; and in addition ''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing meansdisposed to sense a ready condition of the system with respect tofilling a particular container; a valve, having a plurality of ports,adapted to be connected to receive such substance from the supply andalso connected to deliver such substance to the metering piston andchamber, and further adapted and connected to effect bidirectionality offluid flow to and from the metering piston and chamber; the said valvehaving a spool with a plurality of necked-down portions formed therein,and the said spool being driven, in response to the said functionalsignals, between two alternative positions corresponding to and inducingthe two alternative directions of fluid flow to and from the meteringpiston and chamber; dispensing means comprising: means defining anorifice and a dispensing passageway, connected with the said valve, forconducting the volume of substance from the piston and chamber via thevalve into such containers; and orifice-control means, responsive toengagement of a component of the dispensing means with such container,for effecting discharge of such substance only in the presence of acontainer and for preventing admission of air via said orifice into thepassageway; and first functional-signal interconnection means betweensensing means and spool valve, adapted to drive the valve-spool to itsposition which initiates plunger motion away from the ''''IN'''' sensingmeans only when the ''''IN'''' and ''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing meansare initially simultaneously actuated; whereby initiation of eachhalf-cycle of operation away from the ''''IN'''' sensing means iscontingent upon completion of the previous half-cycle of operationtoward the ''''IN'''' sensing means; and second functional-signalinterconnection means between the sensing means and a signal-utilizationmeans, for actuation of the signal-utilization means if the ''''SYSTEMREADY'''' sensing means are actuated but the ''''IN'''' sensing meansare not actuated; whereby further system operation may be madecontingent upon response to the signal-utilization means.
 28. The systemof claim 27, wherein: the utilization means comprise an alarm foralerting a human operator when the SYSTEM READY sensing means isactuated but the IN sensing means is not actuated.
 29. The system ofclaim 27, wherein: the utilization means comprise shutdown apparatus forinterrupting feed of containers to and from the system.
 30. The systemof claim 27, wherein: the utilization means comprise shutdown apparatusfor interrupting flow of substance from the supply.
 31. The system ofclaim 27, wherein: the sensing means are pneumatic devices; they arepneumatically excited, the spool pneumatically driven and theutilization means pneumatically actuated.
 32. The system of claim 31,wherein: the utilization means comprise shutdown apparatus fordepressurizing the pneumatic control system.
 33. The system of claim 27,wherein: the sensing means are elEctrical devices; they are electricallyexcited, the spool electrically driven and the utilization meanselectrically actuated.
 34. The system of claim 27, wherein: the saidplurality of sensing means comprises, in addition, OUT sensing meansdisposed to sense positioning of the plunger at a second one of its twooperating limits; and the first interconnection means are furtheradapted to drive the valve spool toward that position which initiatesplunger motion toward the IN sensing means only if the OUT sensing meansare actuated; whereby initiation of each half-cycle of operation iscontingent upon completion of the previous half-cycle.
 35. The system ofclaim 34, also comprising an additional multiplicity of suchpiston-chamber-plunger-actuating-means combinations, each provided withrespective sensing means, and operating concurrently to fill amultiplicity of containers concurrently, and wherein: operation of thesystem is characterizd by rotary motion of the said multiplicity ofchambers about a common axis, and corresponding rotation therewith ofcontainers to be filled; and the utilization means comprise shutdownapparatus for interrupting said rotary motion.
 36. A system for fillingcontainers with flowable substance from a supply thereof, comprising: abi-acting piston, and means defining a closely-fitted chamber enclosingthe piston slidably between controlled limits, for metering preciselycontrolled volumes of such substance from the supply; and inconjunction: means defining an actuating surface movable with the pistonin an ''''in'''' direction and in an ''''out'''' direction relative tothe chamber; a plurality of sensing means disposed for actuation by theactuating surface, so as to sense the progress of the piston to and fromits respective operating limits, and thereby when suitably excited togenerate functional signals of such progress, the said plurality ofsensing means comprising ''''IN'''' sensing means disposed to sensepositioning of the piston at a first one of its two operating limits;and ''''OUT'''' sensing means disposed to sense positioning of thepiston at the other of its two operating limits; and in addition''''CONTAINER READY'''' sensing means disposed to sense presence of acontainer in ready position for filling with respect to the system;''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing means disposed to sense a ready conditionof the system with respect to filling a particular container; a valve,having a plurality of ports, adapted to be connected between the supplyand the said chamber, and between said chamber and dispensing meansrecited hereinbelow; and adapted and connected to effectbidirectionality of fluid flow to and from the metering piston andchamber; the said valve having a spool with a plurality of necked-downportions formed therein, and the said spool being driven, in response tothe said functional signals, between two alternative positionscorresponding to and inducing the two alternative directions of fluidflow to and from the metering piston and chamber; dispensing meanscomprising: means defining an orifice and a dispensing passagewayconnected with said valve for conducting the volumes of substance fromthe piston and chamber via said valve into such containers; andorifice-control means, responsive to engagement of a component of thedispensing means with such container, for effecting discharge of suchsubstance only in the presence of a container and for preventingadmission of air via said orifice into the passageway; and firstfunctional-signal interconnection means between sensing means and spoolvalve, adapted to drive the valve spool to its position which initiatesactuating-surface motion toward the ''''OUT'''' sensing means only whenthe ''''IN'''' sensing means and ''''CONTAINER READY'''' sensing meansare initially simultaneously actuated; and to drive the valve spooltoward that posiTion which initiates actuating-surface motion toward the''''IN'''' sensing means only if the ''''OUT'''' sensing means areactuated; whereby initiation of the first half-cycle of operation iscontingent upon presence of a container, and initiation of the secondhalf-cycle is contingent upon completion of the first half-cycle; andsecond functional-signal interconnection means between the sensing meansand a signal utilization means, for actuation of the utilization meansif the ''''SYSTEM READY sensing means are actuated but the ''''IN''''sensing means are not actuated; whereby further system operation may bemade contingent upon response to the signal-utilization means.
 37. Asystem for filling containers with flowable substance from a supplythereof, comprising: a bi-acting piston, and means defining aclosely-fitted chamber enclosing the piston slidably between controlledlimits, for metering precisely controlled volumes of such substance fromthe supply; and in conjunction: a plunger attached to and movable withthe piston, extending longitudinally in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal sliding motion of the piston relative to its chamber,through an aperture formed in an end wall of the chamber, the aperturebeing provided with compliant seal means to permit sliding motion of theplunger therethrough in an ''''in'''' direction and in an ''''out''''direction while maintaining pressurization of the chamber; actuatingmeans secured to the end of the plunger outside the chamber and remotefrom the end fixed to the piston; a plurality of sensing means disposedfor actuation by the actuating means, so as to sense the progress of theplunger to and from its respective operating limits, and thereby whensuitably excited to generate functional signals of such progress; thesaid plurality of sensing means comprising ''''IN'''' sensing meansdisposed to sense positioning of the plunger at a first one of its twooperating limits; and ''''OUT'''' sensing means disposed to sensepositioning of the plunger at the other of its two operating limits; andin addition ''''CONTAINER READY'''' sensing means disposed to sensepresence of a container in ready position for filling with respect tothe system; ''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing means disposed to sense a readycondition of the system with respect to filling a particular container;a valve, having a plurality of ports, adapted to be connected betweenthe supply and the said chamber, and between said chamber and dispensingmeans recited hereinbelow; and adapted and connected to effectbidirectionality of fluid flow to and from the metering piston andchamber; the said valve having a spool with a plurality of necked-downportions formed therein, and the said spool being driven, in response tothe said functional signals, between two alternative positionscorresponding to and inducing the two alternative directions of fluidflow to and from the metering piston and chamber; dispensing meanscomprising: means defining an orifice and a dispensing passagewayconnected with said valve for conducting the volumes of substance fromthe piston and chamber via said valve into such containers; andorifice-control means, responsive to engagement of a component of thedispensing means with such container, for effecting discharge of suchsubstance only in the presence of a container and for preventingadmission of air via said orifice into the passageway; and firstfunctional-signal interconnection means between sensing means and spoolvalve, adapted to drive the valve spool to its position which initiatesplunger motion toward the ''''OUT'''' sensing means only when the''''IN'''' sensing means and ''''CONTAINER READY'''' sensing means areinitially simultaneously actuated; and to drive the valve spool towardthat position which initiates plunger motion toward the ''''IN''''sensing means only if the ''''OUT'''' sensing meAns are actuated;whereby initiation of the first half-cycle of operation is contingentupon presence of a container, and initiation of the second half-cycle iscontingent upon completion of the first half-cycle; and secondfunctional-signal interconnection means between the sensing means and asignal utilization means, for actuation of the utilization means if the''''SYSTEM READY'''' sensing means are actuated but the ''''IN''''sensing means are not actuated; whereby further system operation may bemade contingent upon response to the signal-utilization means.
 38. Thesystem of claim 37, also comprising: indicator means for indicating to ahuman operator whether the spool valve is actuated and the cycleinitiated.
 39. The system of claim 38, wherein: the indicator meanscomprise a transparent wall section forming at least a portion of thewall of the spool valve.
 40. The system of claim 38, wherein: theindicator means are responsive to functional-signal transmission fromthe IN sensing means.
 41. The system of claim 38, also comprising: meansfor freeing the spool within the valve in the event the indicator meansindicates stickage thereof.
 42. The system of claim 37, wherein: thefirst functional-signal interconnection means between sensing means andspool valve are further adapted to drive the valve spool toward thatposition which initiates plunger motion toward the IN sensing means onlyif the OUT sensing means are actuated while simultaneously the saidSYSTEM READY sensing means are not actuated; whereby continualreciprocating operation of the spool and piston is inhibited if thesystem is stopped in a system-ready position, thereby to preventmultiple overfilling of a container.
 43. The system of claim 37, alsocomprising: means for deactuating the CONTAINER READY sensing means whensystem operation is interrupted.
 44. A system for filling containerswith flowable substance, comprising: supply means for storing a supplyof such substance under pressure; means defining a cylindrical chamberand at least one port at each end thereof; a piston closely and slidablyfitted within the chamber for motion between predetermined limits;compliant means for effecting a sliding seal between the inner surfaceof the chamber and the outer surface of the piston, whereby the pistonforms a movable wall cooperating with the first-mentioned defining meansto define first and second subchambers, each having at least one port;dispensing means for conducting such substance into such containers;valve means comprising: means defining a cylindrical barrel and at leastfive ports therein spaced along the length thereof; a spool closely andslidably fitted within the barrel, and having at least two necked-downportions spaced along its length; the spool having at least two stablepositions longitudinally within the barrel; means for driving the spoolbetween the two stable positions in response to arrival of the piston inthe chamber at the said predetermined limits; and means for effectingconnection between the supply means, the ports of the valve barrel, theports of the subchambers, and the dispensing means whereby the valveprovides: during a first half-cycle of operation, with the spool in oneof its two stable positions, physical communication between the firstsubchamber and the supply means, whereby pressurized substance from thesupply means entering the first subchamber forcibly moves the cylinder,enlarging the first subchamber and reducing the second subchamber; andprovides physical communication between the second subchamber and thedispensing means, whereby reduction of the second subchamber forciblymoves such substance out of the second subchamber to the dispensingmeans; and during a second half-cycle of operation, with the spool inthe other of its two stable positions, physical communication betweenthe second subchamber and the supply means, whereby pressurizedsubstance from the supply means entering the second subchamber forciblymoves the cylinder, enlarging the second subchamber and reducing thefirst subchamber; and provides physical communication between the firstsubchamber and the dispensing means, whereby reduction of the firstsubchamber forcibly moves such substance out of the first subchamber tothe dispensing means.
 45. The system of claim 44, wherein thespool-driving means comprises: a supply of pressurized gas; twoadditional ports, one at each end of the valve barrel, eachcommunicating with a space within the barrel and defined in part by anend surface of the spool; means for providing physical communicationbetween the gas supply and the two additional ports; and control means,responsive to operation of the piston in the chamber and other systemfunctions, for operating upon the last-mentioned providing means so asto apply the pressurized gas selectively to one or the other end surfaceof the spool; and also including provision for preventing leakage ofpressurized gas into such substance and preventing leakage of suchsubstance into the pressurized gas, comprising: at each end of thebarrel, two compliant seals arranged in series: one seal exposed on onefunctional side to such pressurized substance and on another functionalside to a gas at a reduced pressure; and another seal exposed on onefunctional side to pressurized gas in one such space within the barreland on another functional side to a gas at a reduced pressure; wherebyany leakage of such pressurized substance across the said one seal isonly into the gas at reduced pressure and not into the pressurized gasspaces within the barrel; and any leakage of such pressurized gas acrossthe said other seal is only into the gas at reduced pressure and notinto the pressurized substance.